HONORS CONCEPTUAL PHYSICS SYLLABUS
MS. JOHNSTON 2013/2014
I. TEXT AND MATERIALS
Text: Conceptual Physics Publisher: Prentice Hall 2009 EDITION
Other Required Materials: Lab Notebook with NCR pages
Scientific Calculator or a graphing calculator
3-ring Binder 1 or 1.5 inches (to be used for physics only)
A set of Dividers (for at least 5 sections)
2 Packets of 100 3X5 inch note cards (blank or lined) If your handwriting is larger than average you might want to buy 4x6 inch note cards. Changing your mind will not be a problem.
Pencil Case or pouch
One Dozen Pencils or Mechanical Pencil with Extra Lead
Pencil Sharpener
3 blue or black pens (ball point or rollerball – not soft tip)
2 pens red, pink, or orange (any type)
Eraser
OPTIONAL MATERIALS: White Correction Tape
Metric Ruler
Protractor
Fine Tip Colored Markers
Glue Stick
Scissors
II. Course Outline* Subject to Modification throughout the school year.
QUARTER ONE
Unit I Welcome to Physics, What is Science (Chapter 1) and SURVEY OF PHYSICS PART I
Unit II Measurement and SURVEY OF PHYSICS PART II.
Unit III Equilibrium and Inertia (Chapters 2,3)
QUARTER TWO
Unit IV Linear Motion (Chapter 4) and Newton's Second and Third Laws (Chapters 6,7)
Unit V Free Fall (Ch.4) Projectile Motion (Chapter 5)
Unit VI Energy and Momentum (Chapters 8,9)
QUARTER THREE
Unit VII Gravity (Chapter 13)
Unit VIII Vibrations and Waves (Chapter 25)
QUARTER FOUR
Unit IX Sound (Chapter 26)
Unit X Light (Chapters 27,28,29,30)
Unit XI Creation of the Universe
III. ASSESSMENT OF LEARNING
A. KNOWLEDGE AND EXPLORATION Students are expected to complete all Knowledge and Explorations Tasks (KA- Knowledge Activities, Physics Notes, Conceptual Questions, Review Questions, Formula practice, Exploration Activities, Practice Questions, Quizzes, and other In-Class Activities). Scores on these tasks are based on completion rather that percentage correct. Work at this level will be assessed via the “Monitor Sheets”.
B. UNDERSTANDING AND CONCEPT DEVELOPMENT Students will demonstrate understanding and the development of concepts through their lab work, Graded Understanding Assignments (GUA’s), Concept Cards and Tests. All work at this level will be given a grade.
C. APPLICATION and PROJECT POINTS Students will be asked to apply what they have learned at the knowledge and Understanding Levels. All work at this level will be given a grade.
IV. DETERMINATION OF QUARTER GRADES
A. QUARTER GRADES WILL BE WEIGHTED AS FOLLOWS
Weekly Monitor Sheets (Knowledge and Exploration Activities) 20%
Labs, GUA’s, and Applications 35%
Project Points and Applications 5%
Tests 40%
B. EXTRA CREDIT. A limited amount of extra credit will be offered.
Hall Passes and Tardies (0.5 %)
Extra Project points (0.5 %)
V. DETERMINATION OF SEMESTER GRADES
Each quarter grade will be worth 45% of the semester grade and the semester exam will be worth 10% of the semester grade. The Semester Exam will include all topics covered during the semester. Students should keep ALL papers and assignments to help prepare for this exam.
VI. GRADESCALE
The following grade scale will be used to determine letter grades:
100 + A+ 92-99.9 A 90-91 A-
88-89 B+ 82-87 B 80-81 B-
78-79 C+ 72-77 C 70-71 C-
68-69 D+ 62-67 D 60-61 D-
Percentages are not rounded for quarter grades. Percentages will be rounded for the semester grade.
Grades earned in an Honors Class are weighted when calculating GPA. An "A" in an Honors class is worth 5 points instead of 4 points. Earning a B in Honors Conceptual Physics is equivalent to earning an A in Regular Conceptual Physics.
VII. PROGRESS REPORTS
All students with less than an 80% average will receive a progress report at mid-quarter. A student may also receive a progress report for any of the following reasons: homework not completed on a consistent basis, major assignments not completed, extensive absences with lots of make-up work left to do, tests to take, or at student request.
VIII. GRADES ON FAMILY LINK
Grades are calculated using the school grade program. It is important that students and parents track progress by checking FAMILY LINK on a regular basis. The grades are updated about once per week. Occasionally input errors are made so please check your grades on a regular basis. If you find a mistake or you think there is an error please email me. Please feel free to discuss your grade at any time.
IX. PLACEMENT IN CHEMISTRY AND HONORS CHEMISTRY
After Conceptual Physics/Honors Conceptual Physics, students at St. Mary’s take Chemistry. Forecasting for the next school year occurs shortly after the end of semester one. At that time the placement of each student will be determined. Students who have earned an A in Honors Conceptual Physics are eligible for Honors Chemistry. (Once a student has forecasted for Honors Chemistry it is expected that her second semester grade will remain an A.)
X. LAB SAFETY
You will do a variety of experiments this year. The key work in lab is SAFETY. Know the rules, follow the correct procedure and ask for help if you are not sure how to do something. Specific safety issues are always discussed in conjunction with the presentation of the activity.
XI. EXTRA HELP OR QUESTIONS
I am available for extra help, questions, conversation, making up labs, tests, etc.. I am usually in room 212, the Physics Lab at the following times: 7:20 - 7:55, Break, After School until 3:20, and Activity Blocks. There are times when I have meetings or obligations during these time periods. If you want to be sure that I will be there, ask. I am usually not available during lunch.
You may drop in, unscheduled, or make an appointment.
XII. PROCEDURES and PROTOCOLS. There are specific directions for the procedures and protocol of the classroom. These protocols and procedures are found in additional documents. These are available online on the Schoology Class Page. If you have a question about what to do, when to do it and what is expected, it is addressed.
XIII. SCHOOLOGY With the introduction of IPADs for each student, communication about assignments, tests, quizzes will be communicated on the Schoology Class Page. Although there is a grade portion in Schoology it will not be used as the official grade record for this course. Items done using Schoology may be recorded in Schoology and can serve as a record indicating to the student that a digital task has been completed.
Honors Conceptual Physics Ms. J 2013.2014